Posts tagged ‘coal’
UNC Student Congress passes resolution in favor of coal divestment!
Just weeks after 77% of UNC’s student body voted in favor of coal divestment, our Student Congress has voted overwhelmingly in favor of divesting the university’s $2.1 billion endowment from the dirtiest, most carbon intensive coal mining and coal burning companies in the nation.
The 94th Student Congress of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as the elected legislative authority of the Student Government of the University, representing all of the 29,278 students of the student body expresses its support for UNC’s endowment divesting from coal companies.
Here is a link to the text of the UNC Student Congress resolution for coal divestment and the press release from the UNC Beyond Coal campaign applauding the resolution of support.
The resolution passed on Tuesday night by a 24-6 vote, which in addition to the referendum will send a strong message to the administration and the Board of Trustees that divestment and the bigger picture of climate change are issues that students at UNC are deeply concerned about and issues that the university must take action on immediately.
The referendum on the student ballot was significant, and it is encouraging to know that such a large percentage of the student body is supportive of the divestment campaign. But the support from Student Congress that we have received is even more significant, as they represent all 29,278 students at UNC Chapel Hill.
Since the results of the election last month were announced, the administration has been unresponsive to our requests to present at the UNC Board of Trustees meeting from March 27th-28th. The Board has no excuse to continue to ignore this issue, and should allow the UNC Sierra Student Coalition to make an educational presentation to them at the meeting. We hope that the resolution that was passed will place even more pressure on the university to divest. But whether we are able to make a presentation or not, we will be at the Board meeting in numbers, and we extend the invitation to all of you to join us. Can you bring a friend?
For more information about our campaign, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our blog.
“Coal-Free Shuffle” FLASH DANCE Tomorrow!
Gearing up for the Flash Dance @ UNC tomorrow! Going to be meeting in front of South Building @ 12:50pm.
Details/event on Facebook.
I ♥ Mountains Week Recap
Thanks to all the people who came out for I <3 Mountains Week! For those that were unfortunate enough to have missed out, here’s a quick recap:
Starting on March 1st, Coal-Free UNC held “I <3 Mountains Week” to raise awareness about the destructive practice of mountain top removal coal mining. Because, of course, if you heart mountains you try your darndest not to blow them to smithereens.
The week-long event came amidst news that the Red River Coal Company, which provides some of the coal used to power UNC’s cogeneration facility, practices mountain top removal.
We got some attention for our efforts. Check out the articles via the newsobserver and The Daily Tar Heel.
Events included:
- A concert by cellist Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore. The proceeds benefited two organizations who really heart some mountains – Appalachian Voices and ILovemountains.org.
- A talk by Austin Hall of Appalachian Voices
- AND a Mountain Top Removal Demonstration by Coal-Free UNC artistically reinterpreted in the form of paper mache, the video of which can be seen below.
Hansen at UNC Cogeneration Plant for Coal Free Campus Campaign
On Tuesday, Feb. 2nd, climate scientist, Dr. James Hansen, stopped by UNC’s Cogeneration Plant to voice his support for a Coal-Free UNC, and to encourage other colleges to stop burning coal, which pollutes the environment and contributes to global climate change. Check out Dr. Hansen sporting his Beyond Coal shirt!
Note: this is just the short version. Visit our youtube channel to watch the full length version of the press conference with comments from community member and neighbor to the plant Dr. Pat Leighten, glaciologist and UNC faculty Dr. Jose Rial, and UNC student Stewart Boss.
James Hansen Coming to Carolina
Dr. James Hansen of NASA and Columbia University will be coming to UNC on Feb. 1st to discuss global climate change. He has kindly agreed to stop by UNC’s Cogeneration Facility the next day on Tuesday, Feb. 2nd, to voice his support for a Coal-Free UNC. We are honored to have one of the most prominent climatologists recognize our efforts to get rid of a harmful, dirty and archaic energy source on Carolina’s campus and beyond. If you’re in the area, be sure to stop by! Facebook event RSVP Google doc RSVP
Hansen on why we should phase out coal via http://solveclimate.com
Coal-Free UNC Kick-Off Party 2010!
Last semester we kicked off the Sierra Club Coal-Free Campus Campaign in Chapel Hill. Since our first Kick-Off meeting we’ve been making steady progress to move Carolina Beyond Coal. Last year, hundreds of students showed they wanted clean energy by working on the campaign and signing our petition to Chancellor Thorp encouraging him to work towards a clean energy future at UNC.
We have the potential to make the campaign even bigger and better this semester. But we need your help! Show the university that we truly care about the environment, our health, and our future. Come out to our Kick-Off Meeting to learn about the campaign and how you can become involved!
The Kick-Off Party will be at 7pm on Jan. 27, Wednesday in Dey Hall. RSVP at the link and we hope to see you there!
Sierra Club Beyond Coal Director Bruce Nilles on the campaign:
Stewart’s Op-ed Featured in The Herald-Sun!
Stewart Boss, one of our coordinators for the Coal-Free UNC campaign, recently had his op-ed published in The Herald-Sun. Click on the link to read Stewart’s boss article (pun very much intended).
Coal-Free UNC Rally – 11.11.09
Check out the video from our rally! Rather rally in the rain, than have dirty coal at Carolina.
Coal-Free UNC Rally Tomorrow 11:50am!
We will be having our Coal-Free UNC Rally tomorrow at 11:50am in Polk Place, located near the flagpole in the central part of Carolina’s campus. Hoping for a big turn-out. We’re fresh off an endorsement from recently elected mayor of Chapel Hill, Mark Kleinschmidt, so we’re pretty pumped.
People need to realize that the problem of coal usage is just as much a human rights issue, as an environmental one. Coal has polluted the local resources of many communities. People are forced to live in a toxic environment which causes their health to suffer as a result.
Hopefully, the rally will get the word out there and generate awareness.
Stop by if you’re in the area!
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